Two male Great Indian Bustards bred in captivity were released into the wild at Sam in Rajasthan's Desert National Park on 4 October, India's environment ministry said. The release near Jaisalmer marks a new stage for a conservation programme focused on the critically endangered bird.
The ministry said the move shifts the programme from building a breeding population towards carefully managed rewilding. Scientists will use what they learn from this release to refine the approach before further birds are returned to their natural habitat.
The Bustard Recovery Programme brings together the Union environment ministry, Rajasthan Forest Department and Wildlife Institute of India. Its work includes breeding, habitat restoration and efforts to reduce threats to the species. The government said 11 birds had been earmarked for eventual release, with these two the first to be released.
The Indian Express also reported that the birds were raised through the conservation-breeding effort at centres in the Jaisalmer area. The release is a step in the recovery programme, not evidence that the species is now secure in the wild.
Sources: Press Information Bureau, Government of India (4 October 2026); The Indian Express (4 October 2026).
Illustration disclosure: The accompanying image is an AI-generated editorial illustration of Great Indian Bustards in arid habitat. It is not a photograph of the release.
